Axios Reporter Fired For Response to Press Release About DeSantis Education Event

An Axios journalist was dismissed after he responded to a press release from the office of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) by calling it “propaganda.”

The press release was regarding a Department of Education event hosted by DeSantis. According to the release, the event is titled “exposing the diversity equity and inclusion scam in higher education.” DeSantis has made targeting “woke” in schools the center of his platform, as well as restricting materials deemed obscene in public schools, something his critics claim is a way to target LGBTQ or Black history-related materials.

“This is propaganda, not a press release,” Axios reporter Ben Montgomery wrote in response to the release, at least according to a screenshot that Alex Lanfranconi, communications director for the Florida Department of Education.